Improving Adult Literacy Instruction

Improving Adult Literacy Instruction PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-04-26

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13: 0309219590

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A high level of literacy in both print and digital media is required for negotiating most aspects of 21st-century life, including supporting a family, education, health, civic participation, and competitiveness in the global economy. Yet, more than 90 million U.S. adults lack adequate literacy. Furthermore, only 38 percent of U.S. 12th graders are at or above proficient in reading. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction synthesizes the research on literacy and learning to improve literacy instruction in the United States and to recommend a more systemic approach to research, practice, and policy. The book focuses on individuals ages 16 and older who are not in K-12 education. It identifies factors that affect literacy development in adolescence and adulthood in general, and examines their implications for strengthening literacy instruction for this population. It also discusses technologies for learning that can assist with multiple aspects of teaching, assessment,and accommodations for learning. There is inadequate knowledge about effective instructional practices and a need for better assessment and ongoing monitoring of adult students' proficiencies, weaknesses, instructional environments, and progress, which might guide instructional planning. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction recommends a program of research and innovation to validate, identify the boundaries of, and extend current knowledge to improve instruction for adults and adolescents outside school. The book is a valuable resource for curriculum developers, federal agencies such as the Department of Education, administrators, educators, and funding agencies.

Tracking Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills

Tracking Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills PDF

Author: Stephen Reder

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008-09-16

Total Pages: 497

ISBN-13: 1135903298

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Understanding the origins of poor literacy and numeracy skills in adulthood and how to improve them is of major importance when society places a high premium on proficiency in these basic skills. This edited collection brings together the results of recent longitudinal studies that greatly extend our knowledge of what works in raising skill levels, as well as the social and economic returns to improvement. Many fundamental research questions in adult education involve change over time: how adults learn, how program participation influences their acquisition of skills and knowledge, and how their educational development interacts with their social and economic performance. Although a growing number of longitudinal studies in adult basic education have recently been completed, this book is the first systematic compilation of findings and methods. Triangulating findings from different methodological perspectives and research designs, and across countries, this text produces convergence on key conclusions about the role of basic skills in the modern life course and the most effective ways of enhancing them.

Skills for Life

Skills for Life PDF

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Public Accounts Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9780215526090

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Although the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and its predecessor, the Department for Education and Skills, spent around £5 billion on basic skills courses between 2001 and 2007 (£9 billion by 2011), large numbers of the adult working population of England remain functionally illiterate and innumerate. In 2003, an estimated 75 per cent of the adult population of working age had numeracy skills below the level of a good pass at GCSE and 56 per cent had literacy skills below this level. In July 2007, the Government announced a new objective to help 95 per cent of the adult population of working age achieve functional literacy and numeracy (the level of skill generally needed to get by in life) by 2020. Achieving this ambition would, however, only raise England to the standards currently achieved by the top 25 per cent of OECD member countries. There are now separate targets for literacy and numeracy which focus on achieving the functional level of skill. The new targets, especially for numeracy, will be challenging to meet and, to date, far less progress has been made tackling poor numeracy skills compared with literacy skills. This is not helped by the low number of numeracy teachers available. Many hard-to-reach people with poor literacy and numeracy skills come into contact with other government services, such as Jobcentre Plus, the Prison Service and the Probation Service. More of these people are being encouraged to take up courses to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, but the percentage who participate is still relatively small. The Department's biggest challenges are reaching people in the workplace who lack skills and getting employers to recognise the benefits of raising the skills of their workforce.`

Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 7

Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 7 PDF

Author: John Comings

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-05-31

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 1000941914

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Review of Adult Learning and Literacy: Connecting Research, Policy, and Practice, Volume 7, is the newest volume in a series of annual publications of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) that address major issues, the latest research, and the best practices in the field of adult literacy and learning. Each Review opens with an overview of significant recent developments in the field of adult literacy followed by a set of chapters presenting in-depth reviews of research and best practices on topics of high interest to the field, and concludes with a Resources section. Chapter topics in Volume 7: *Persistence: Helping Adult Students Reach Their Goals *Achieving Adult Education Program Quality *Assistive Technology and Adult literacy *Individualized Group Instruction *Health Literacy *Research on Professional Development and Teacher Change *Opportunities, Transitions, and Risks: Perspectives on Adult Literacy and Numeracy Development in Australia *Adult Basic Education in South Africa *Annotated Bibliography on Workplace Education The Review of Adult Learning and Literacy serves as the journal of record for the field and is an essential resource for all stakeholders who need to know what research can reveal about how best to serve adult learners. The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) is a federally funded research and development center focused solely on adult learning. NCSALL's efforts are dedicated to improving practice in educational programs that serve adults with limited literacy and English language skills, and those without a high school diploma. For more information on NCSALL, please visit http://www.ncsall.net/.

EBOOK: Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Language: Policy, Practice and Research

EBOOK: Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Language: Policy, Practice and Research PDF

Author: Lyn Tett

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education (UK)

Published: 2006-06-16

Total Pages: 206

ISBN-13: 0335228038

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This book explores the social practice of literacy, numeracy and language and its implications for teaching and learning adult basic skills. Leading international experts argue that literacy, numeracy and language are more than just a set of skills or techniques, but are shaped by the social and cultural context within which they are taking place; the meanings they have for users; and the purposes they serve. This shifts the focus from a narrow, functional and externally imposed definition of literacy, numeracy and language learning, to more open and numerous definitions that focus on what people do with their knowledge, understanding and skills in a range of contexts. Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Language shows how the social practice approach to learning and teaching can be used to develop more inclusive views of adult literacy, numeracy and language. Bringing together the views of researchers, policy makers and practitioners, it helps readers to develop an understanding of contemporary policy developments and encourages them to examine their own practice as adult basic education teachers, in order to respond more effectively to the needs of their students. This book is a valuable resource for practitioners, researchers and students on courses in adult and continuing education (particularly basic skills), postgraduate students, and researchers in the field of post-compulsory education.

Skills for Life

Skills for Life PDF

Author: Great Britain. National Audit Office

Publisher: Stationery Office Books (TSO)

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9780102931631

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Twenty-six million people of working age have levels of literacy and numeracy below those expected of school leavers, and many of them experience practical everyday problems. They cannot read and understand signs, notices or labels, and cannot check they have received the correct change when shopping. Moreover, many work in low-skilled jobs, are unemployed, or on benefits, or are offenders in prison or supervised in the community. DfES launched the Skills for Life Strategy in March 2001, which includes programmes for English for Speakers for Other Languages (ESOL). These programmes are beginnning to make an impact, despite social and psychological barriers to participation, but further improvement is necessary, for example, people who are 'difficult to reach' could be contacted through family literacy schemes (linked with schools) or through schemes aimed at jobseekers. People over 20, and refugees and asylum seekers, should be increasingly targeted. Greater liaison with employers, unions and public sector agencies (such as Learning and Skills Agencies) should encourage greater participation in shorter (and more flexible) courses, and more research into the reasons for high drop-out rates .

Skills for Life

Skills for Life PDF

Author: Great Britain. National Audit Office

Publisher: Stationery Office Books (TSO)

Published: 2008-01-01

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9780102954166

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The strategy to improve basic literacy and numeracy skills has helped over 5.7 million adults achieve a qualification or other specified learning aim at a cost of £5 billion. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Learning and Skills Council exceeded targets for the number of adults reaching basic literacy and numeracy standards (750,000 by 2004 and 1.5 million by 2007). The Department is also on course to meet the 2010 target of improving the basic skills of 2.25 million adults. Less progress has been made in strengthening numeracy skills compared with literacy skills. Numeracy courses are less popular than literacy courses with fewer people participating in them and achieving qualifications. Many people with literacy and numeracy needs come into contact with different parts of government, such as Jobcentre Plus. The Department could make better use of these contacts to engage people on Skills for Life courses. Participation and achievement levels for people with a literacy or numeracy need vary across the country. Based on the 2003 survey of need, the North East and North West have the best rates of achievement for both literacy and numeracy. In contrast, the East of England and East Midlands have the lowest rates of achievement for literacy and East of England and London, the lowest rates of achievement for numeracy. Between 2001 and 2004, spending on English for Speakers of Other Languages courses tripled to almost £300 million a year. However, demand for these courses has exceeded supply, particularly in London. Although significant progress is being made against targets, until the Department updates its assessment of literacy and numeracy needs, the scale of the challenge regarding adult skill levels will remain unclear.

Skills for Life

Skills for Life PDF

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2006-01-24

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9780215026910

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An estimated 26 million people of working age have levels of literacy and numeracy below those expected of school leavers, and many of them experience practical everyday problems. The UK has lower levels of literacy and numeracy in the adult population of working age than many of our international competitors. In order to address this problem, the DfES launched the Skills for Life Strategy in March 2001, with a target to improve the skills of 2.25 million adults by 2010. By 2006, at least £3.7 billion will have been spent on the strategy, which includes ESOL programmes (English for speakers of other languages). Following on from an NAO report (HCP 20, session 2004-05; ISBN 0102931631) published in December 2004, the Committee's report examines the progress being made to improve the literacy, language and numeracy skills of adults in England, to expand learning provision and improve its quality.